Jean M. Auel's Earth's Children Series - Collector's Edition: The Clan of the Cave Bear, The Valley of Horses, The Mammoth Hunters, The Plains of Passage, The Shelters of Stone, The Land of Painted Caves

The Clan of the Cave Bear, book 1:A natural disaster leaves Ayla wandering alone in an unfamiliar and dangerous land until she is found by a woman of the Clan, people very different from her own kind. To them, blonde, blue-eyed Ayla looks peculiar and ugly — she is one of the Others, those who have moved into their ancient homeland; but Iza cannot

Overview

The Clan of the Cave Bear, book 1:A natural disaster leaves Ayla wandering alone in an unfamiliar and dangerous land until she is found by a woman of the Clan, people very different from her own kind. To them, blonde, blue-eyed Ayla looks peculiar and ugly — she is one of the Others, those who have moved into their ancient homeland; but Iza cannot leave the girl to die and takes her with them. Iza and Creb grow to love her, and as Ayla learns the ways of the Clan, most come to accept her. But the brutal and proud youth who is to become their next leader sees her differences as a threat to his authority. He develops a deep hatred for Ayla and is determined to get his revenge.

The Valley of Horses, book 2:Cruelly cast out by the new leader of the Clan that adopted her as a child, Ayla leaves and travels alone through a stark land filled with dangerous animals, searching for the Others. She knows she can survive when she traps a horse, but fate has bestowed a greater gift, an orphaned foal with which she develops a unique kinship. One winter extends to more before she hears a man screaming in pain. She saves handsome Jondalar, who brings her a language to speak and an awakening of love and desire. But Ayla is torn between her fear of leaving her valley and her hope of living with her own kind.

The Mammoth Hunters, book 3:Jondalar and Ayla venture into the land of the Mamutoi — the Mammoth Hunters. She has finally found the Others she has been seeking. She finds women friends and painful memories of the Clan she left behind, and meets Ranec, the dark-skinned master carver of ivory, whom she cannot refuse — inciting Jondalar to a fierce jealousy. Tension mounts and warm weather brings the great mammoth hunt and mating rituals of the Summer Meeting, when Ayla must choose to remain with Ranec and the Mamutoi, or to follow Jondalar on a journey into an unknown future.

The Plains of Passage, book 4:With Jondalar, Ayla sets out on her most dangerous journey — away from the Mammoth Hunters and into the unknown. Their odyssey spans the treacherous continent of Ice Age Europe, casting them among strangers. Some are intrigued by their many innovative skills; others avoid them, threatened by what they cannot understand; and some threaten them. But Ayla, with no memory of her own people, and Jondalar, with a hunger to return to his, are impelled to continue their trek to find that place they can both call home.

The Shelters of Stone, book 5:Ayla and Jondalar, along with their animal friends, have completed their epic journey across Europe and are greeted by Jondalar’s people, the Zelandonii. These people fascinate Ayla, but as Ayla and Jondalar prepare for their formal mating at the Summer Meeting, there are difficulties. Not all the Zelandonii are welcoming. Some fear Ayla’s unfamiliar ways and her relationship with the Clan, openly opposing her union with Jondalar. Now Ayla must call on all her wisdom and instincts to find her place, prepare for the birth of her child, and decide on the role she is to play in shaping the destiny of the Zelandonii.

The Land of Painted Caves, book 6:Ayla, Jondalar, and their infant daughter, Jonayla, are living with the Zelandonii in the Ninth Cave. Ayla has embarked on the arduous task of training to become a spiritual leader. Whatever the obstacles, Ayla’s inventive spirit produces new ways to lessen the difficulties of daily life. And then, there are the Sacred Caves, the caves that Ayla’s mentor takes her to see. These caves are filled with remarkable art — paintings of mammoths, lions, bison, bear. The powerful, mystical aura within these caves sometimes overwhelms Ayla and the initiation rituals bring her close to death. But through them, Ayla gains A Gift of Knowledge so important that it will change the world.

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Meet the Author

In 1980, Jean M. Auel became a literary legend with The Clan of the Cave Bear, the first book in her Earth’s Children® series. Now a mother, grandmother, and author who has sold more than 45 million copies worldwide, Auel is a heroine of history and prehistory alike, changing the world one enthralling page at a time.